Dublin shopping center studied

Oakland Tribune, Aug 14, 2006 by Rebecca F. Johnson, STAFF WRITER

DUBLIN -- The City Council will review plans Tuesday night for a new shopping area called Grafton Station in the Dublin Ranch development.

The 318,000-square-foot retail space, which will be distributed into eight sections, will include a Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse with an outdoor garden center.

Grafton Station will follow a "main street design theme" and will provide "an attractive retail center that will serve the community and the region," ac-

cording to city staff reports.

The proposed project, which will require an extension of the village commercial center shopping area along Grafton Street, is expected to be completed in phases.

The council will also consider introducing two new ordinances, one that would declare secondhand smoke a nuisance and one that would require developers to contribute on-site public art for projects.

At a meeting in June, the council directed city staff to develop an ordinance relating to secondhand tobacco smoke that would not require police enforcement.

The ordinance was prompted by resident Shirley Wassom who contacted Councilwoman Kasie

Hildenbrand about being unableto resolve a conflict with a neighbor who continued to smoke in the direction of Wassoms home, despite being informed of her medical problems.

The ordinance would enable residents to take action in such situations by bringing the matter before a judge in small claims court without having to prove that secondhand smoke is a nuisance.

Meanwhile, the proposed public art program would require developers to contribute an art project equal to or exceeding 0.5 percent of the buildings valuation or contribute an in-lieu fee the city will use for art projects.

The ordinance, if adopted, would apply to all new nonresidential development and residential projects exceeding 20 units.

Some exceptions, including 100 percent affordable housing complexes, condominium conversions and day care centers would apply.

Rebecca Johnson can be reached at (925) 416-4882 or rjohnson@trivalleyherald.com.